NORMAL FIRE RESTRICTIONS

Fire restrictions vary in different parts of Selwyn District depending on both the level of risk and the particular fire-fighting authority that has jurisdiction in a given area (Department of Conservation, Environment Canterbury and Selwyn District Council). 

Environment Canterbury (ECan) is responsible for controlling air pollution from fires and can therefore impose restrictions in all or any residential or rural part of the Canterbury Region, which includes Selwyn District. To report or complain about smoke or air pollution please phone the ECAN POLLUTION HOTLINE on (03) 366 4663.

The Selwyn District Council's fire control responsibilities are confined to those rural parts of the Selwyn District not controlled by the Department of Conservation (DOC).

DOC controls fire on its own lands and within the 1-kilometre margin surrounding those lands, as well as the 1-kilometre margin around Lake Ellesmere. DOC is also the fire authority for most river beds (except for the lower Waimakariri, which is under ECan's jurisdiction).

Fire control in the rest of rural Selwyn falls under the Selwyn District Council's jurisdiction. For management purposes, the rural fire area is divided into:

• the Plains, and

• the Hills and High country.

Restrictions are permanent in the Hills and High Country, but vary with the season in the Plains area.

The normal restriction status of each area is as follows:

PLAINS AREA See map

Open air fires may be lit without a fire permit in non-residential parts of the Plains area, provided that they are not within a kilometre of Lake Ellesmere or DOC land, or within a river bed. 

If you have any doubts please contact the Principal Rural Fire Officer, Wilson Brown 

HILL AND HIGH COUNTRY See map  

A year-round Restricted Fire Season applies in the Hill and High Country, meaning that it is an offence to light a fire in the open there without a fire permit from Selwyn District Council.

DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION (DOC) LAND See map 

A year-round Restricted Fire Season applies on DOC land and within 1 kilometre of it, meaning that it is an offence to light a fire in the open on or near DOC land without a fire permit from DOC (Phone 03 371 3700).

LAKE ELLESMERE AND RIVERS See map  

A year-round Restricted Fire Season applies within 1 kilometre of Lake Ellesmere and within all river beds (except the lower Waimakariri) meaning that it is an offence to light a fire in the open there without a fire permit from DOC (Phone 03 371 3700)

SELWYN PLANTATION BOARD FORESTS

Fire is Totally Prohibited in Selwyn Plantation Board Forests.